Leucanthemum plant named ‘LEUZ0003’

ABSTRACT

A new  Leucanthemum  plant named ‘LEUZ0003’ characterised particularly as to novelty by the fact that it does not need cold to flower, has abundant flowers on a compact, tidy plant.

Latin name of the genus and species of the plant claimed: Leucanthemum maximum.

Varietal denomination: ‘LEUZ0003’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum, botanically known as Leucanthemum maximum.

The new Leucanthemum is a product of a planned breeding program conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Leucanthemum cultivar that is floriferous, single-flowering, good flower quality and a good vigor that does not require cold to flower.

The present cultivar originated from a cross made in 2006 of a Leucanthemum plant identified as ‘F2772-5’, not patented, as the female, or seed parent which has lighter color of leaves, more branches, and shorter ray florets, with a Leucanthemum plant identified as ‘F2764-1’, not patented, as the male, or pollen parent which has a larger flower, less branches, and smaller leaves.

The present cultivar was first asexually reproduced by cuttings in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, in September 2006.

The distinctive characters of this new Leucanthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations of asexual reproduction. It takes 10 to 14 weeks to produce a finished plant, depending on the temperature and daylength.

This new Leucanthemum plant is a perennial in all climatical zones in the US.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic drawing shows typical flower and foliage characteristics of ‘LEUZ0003’ with colors being as true as possible with an illustration of this type.

The photographic drawing shows in FIG. 1 a flowering plant of the new variety, and in FIG. 2 a close-up of the flowers.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW CULTIVAR

The following detailed descriptions set forth the distinctive characteristics of this new Leucanthemum. The data which defines these characteristics were collected from asexual reproductions carried out in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The plant description was taken on 14 weeks old plants, blossomed under natural light on the container field. Color chart used: The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), 2001.

‘LEUZ0003’ has not been made publicly available prior to the effective filing date of this application, notwithstanding any disclosure that may have been made less than one year prior to the effective filing date of this application by the inventor or another who obtained ‘LEUZ0003’ directly from the inventor.

Natural flowering season at specified location(s): Under Northern European conditions, ‘LEUZ0003’ flowers from June until the end of September

The following traits distinguish ‘LEUZ0003’ as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   The plant does not require cold to flower     -   The flowers are single     -   The flowers are abundant

Plants of the new Leucanthemum can be compared to plants of ‘LEUZ0001’, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 23,426. In side-by-side comparisons conducted by the inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands, the plants of the new Leucanthemum differed from the plants of the cultivar ‘LEUZ0001’ in the following characteristics.

TABLE 1 Differences between the new cultivar ‘LEUZ0003’ and ‘LEUZ0001’ ‘LEUZ0003’ ‘LEUZ0001’ Flower type: Single flowering Double flowering Plant height: Taller Short Leaf color: Dark green Light green

THE PLANT

-   Parentage:     -   -   Female parent.—‘F2772-5’, a genetic pool selection, not             patented.         -   Male parent.—‘F2764-1’, a genetic pool selection, not             patented. -   Plant description:     -   -   Type cutting.—Terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—21 days at 20 degrees C.         -   Time to produce a rooted cutting.—4 weeks.         -   Root description.—Fine, fibrous and white in color. -   Plant description:     -   -   General appearance.—Medium big plant with abundant flowers             plant with dark leaves early to flower.         -   Branching habit.—Basal branching.         -   Plant height.—32 cm.         -   Plant spread.—21 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—         -   Primary.—22 cm.         -   Secondary.—10 cm.         -   Diameter.—         -   Primary.—0.5 cm.         -   Secondary.—0.3 cm.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Internode length.—2 cm.         -   Color.—RHS 137B.         -   Foliage description.—         -   Arrangement.—Alternate.         -   Length, mature leaves.—10 cm.         -   Width, mature leaves.—3 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Rounded to broadly acute.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Aspect.—Arcuate.         -   Margin.—Dentate.         -   Pubescence.—         -   Upper surface.—Lightly pubescent.         -   Lower surface.—Lightly Pubescent.         -   Texture.—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Color young foliage, upper surface.—RHS 137B.         -   Color young foliage, lower surface.—RHS 137C.         -   Fully expanded foliage, upper surface.—RHS 137A.         -   Fully expanded foliage, lower surface.—RHS 138A.         -   Petiole.—Absent.         -   Veins, venation type.—Pinnate.         -   Veins, color upper surface.—143B.         -   Veins, color lower surface.—143D. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Bud (described before color developed).—         -   Bud shape.—Spherical.         -   Bud diameter.—1.2 cm.         -   Bud length.—0.6 cm.         -   Bud color.—RHS 137B.         -   Appearance.—         -   Form.—Actinomorphic.         -   Inflorescence position.—Terminal.         -   Disc and ray floret arrangement.—Acropetally on a capitulum.         -   Number of inflorescences per plant.—65.         -   Lasting quality per flower.—12 days.         -   Fragrance.—None.         -   Size.—         -   Diameter.—First flowers: 12 cm. Last flowers: 7 cm.         -   Height.—2 cm.         -   Diameter of disc.—3 cm.         -   Ray florets.—         -   Length.—3.5 cm.         -   Width.—0.9 cm.         -   Shape.—Oblanceolate.         -   Apex.—Tridentate.         -   Base.—Cuneate.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth, glabrous.         -   Number per inflorescence.—36.         -   Color, when opening.—Upper surface: RHS 157B. Lower surface:             RHS 157B.         -   Colour fully opened.—Upper surface: RHS 157D. Lower surface:             RHS 157C.         -   Disc florets.—         -   Length.—0.9 cm.         -   Width.—0.15 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Number per inflorescence.—350.         -   Color.—Immature: Apex: RHS 7B. Margin: RHS 154C.         -   Mature.—Apex: RHS 13C. Margin: RHS 7C.         -   Phyllaries.—         -   Length.—1.0 cm.         -   Width.—0.3 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptic.         -   Apex.—Obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Number per inflorescence.—40.         -   Arrangement.—Imbricate whorls.         -   Texture (both upper and lower surfaces).—Smooth and glabrous             with light pubescence present.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 138C. Lower surface: RHS 138B.         -   Peduncle.—         -   Length.—6 cm.         -   Diameter.—0.3 cm.         -   Aspect.—Upright.         -   Texture.—Light pubescence present.         -   Color.—RHS 137B. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Androecium.—         -   Presence.—On disc florets only.         -   Number (per floret).—1.         -   Filament length.—0.2 cm.         -   Filament color.—RHS 5A.         -   Anthers.—Shape: Oblong. Length: 0.1 cm. Color: RHS 8A.         -   Pollen.—Color: RHS 8A. Amount (generally): Moderate.         -   Gynoecium.—         -   Presence.—On disc and ray florets.         -   Pistils.—Number: 1. Length: 0.6 cm.         -   Style.—Length: 0.4 cm. Color: RHS 154C.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Bi-lobed. Color: RHS 7B.         -   Seeds.—None observed.         -   Disease resistance.—No resistance or susceptibility             observed.         -   Temperature tolerance.—Cold tolerance to −20 degrees C.;             Heat tolerance to 35 degrees C.         -   Drought tolerance.—Not drought tolerant. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Leucanthemum plant named ‘LEUZ0003’, as substantially illustrated and described herein. 